{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O90331"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O90331/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FT6073/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FT6073/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FT6073","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6074","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6075","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6076","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6077","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6078","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6079","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6080","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6081","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FT6082","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA4081","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KA4129","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O90331/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O90331","accessionNumber":"A.1-1950","objectType":"Altar","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This monumental amber and ivory altar is from Danzig (now Gdansk), and was probably produced in the second quarter of the 17th century. The form of the altar resembles mid-17th century North German wall monuments. The central amber relief of the Adoration of the Shepherds is based on a Netherlandish print, and engraved sources are also likely to have been used for the ivory reliefs also to be seen here. The back of the alater has at the centre a perpetual calendar, whch can rotate ti display at any one time seven days of the month. \nFew parallels can be cited for such an elaborate work of art in amber.","physicalDescription":"This altar stands on four ivory cushion feet. It has a carcase of wood with applied amber and ivory panels and relief. The front displays scenes and figures from the New Testament. In the centre is a relief of the Adoration of the Shepherds. On the back is a perpetual calendar, and further Biblical scenes. Great attention has been given to details.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"amber","id":"AAT12934"},{"text":"ivory","id":"AAT11857"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Amber and ivory on a wooden carcase","categories":[{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2012FT6073","2012FT6074","2012FT6075","2012FT6076","2012FT6077","2012FT6078","2012FT6079","2012FT6080","2012FT6081","2012FT6082","2017KA4081","2017KA4129"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"6","id":"THES49750"},"free":"","case":"CA11","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"altarpiece","id":"AAT75940"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Gdansk","id":"x36787"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1625-1650","earliest":"1625-01-01","latest":"1650-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"1232","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"525","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"380","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"base","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured by Conservation, 2012.\r\n\r\nPrevious dimensions from Trusted, Marjorie. <u>Catalogue of European Ambers in the Victoria and Albert Museum.</u>  London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985. 119 p., ill. ISBN 0948107138, cat. no. 9 as follows:\r\nHeight: 121.2 cm x Length (base): 52.8 cm x Depth (base): 38 cm","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Formerly in the collection of Sir E. Naylor Leyland. Sold at the sale of contents of Hyde Park House, 11 June 1923, lot 186\n\nNB. While the term ‘cripple’ has been used in this record, it has since fallen from usage and is now considered offensive. The term is repeated in this record in its original historical context.\r\n\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Altar, amber and ivory on a wooden carcase, probably made in Gdańsk (formerly Danzig), Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, second quarter of the 17th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Trusted, Marjorie. <u>Catalogue of European Ambers in the Victoria and Albert Museum.</u>  London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1985. 119 p., ill. ISBN 0948107138, cat. no. 9"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Marcos, Estella M. M., <u>La Escultura Barroca de Marfil en España</u>, Madrid, 1984, II, pp. 336-7"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Grimaldi, D. A. <u>Amber: Window to the Past</u>, American Museum of Natural History, 1996, p. 172"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Garden of Eden","id":"x37814"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Jesus Christ","id":"N1515"},{"text":"Gabriel (Angel)","id":"N491"},{"text":"Mary (Virgin Mary)","id":"N480"},{"text":"John (Saint John the Evangelist)","id":"N103"},{"text":"Adam","id":"N560"},{"text":"Eve","id":"N561"},{"text":"John (Saint John the Baptist)","id":"N450"},{"text":"Moses","id":"N636"},{"text":"Elijah","id":"N587"},{"text":"Matthew (Saint)","id":"N6"},{"text":"Mark (Saint)","id":"N484"},{"text":"Luke (Saint)","id":"N436"},{"text":"Wise Men","id":"N1412"},{"text":"Zacchaeus","id":"N1742"},{"text":"Jonah","id":"N613"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"The Adoration of the Shepherds","id":"V162"},{"text":"The Annunciation","id":"V30"},{"text":"Return of the Prodigal Son","id":"V220"},{"text":"The Last Supper","id":"V135"},{"text":"Baptism of Christ","id":"V168"},{"text":"The Transfiguration","id":"V223"},{"text":"Christ walking on the waves","id":"V294"},{"text":"Walk to Emmaus","id":"V12"},{"text":"The Agony in the Garden","id":"V136"},{"text":"The Crucifixion","id":"V106"},{"text":"Adoration of the Magi","id":"V132"},{"text":"Christ meets Zacchaeus","id":"V295"},{"text":"Christ prophesying Peter's denial","id":"V296"},{"text":"Christ healing the cripple","id":"V297"},{"text":"The temptation of Christ","id":"V255"},{"text":"The Last Judgement","id":"V214"},{"text":"The Fall of Man","id":"V271"},{"text":"Jonah and the whale","id":"V298"},{"text":"Expulsion out of Paradise","id":"V299"},{"text":"Apocalypse","id":"V290"},{"text":"Moses and the Brazen Serpent","id":"V301"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"shepherd","id":"AAT25617"},{"text":"angel","id":"x30526"},{"text":"ox","id":"x30395"},{"text":"donkey","id":"x30112"},{"text":"column","id":"AAT1571"},{"text":"vine","id":"AAT132406"},{"text":"fruit","id":"AAT11868"},{"text":"festoons","id":"AAT167386"},{"text":"apostle","id":"x35314"},{"text":"bird","id":"x35043"},{"text":"flower","id":"AAT132399"},{"text":"architecture","id":"AAT54156"},{"text":"Aquarius symbol","id":"AAT169856"},{"text":"Aries symbol","id":"AAT169868"},{"text":"Cancer symbol","id":"AAT169870"},{"text":"Capricorn symbol","id":"AAT169872"},{"text":"Gemini symbol","id":"AAT169874"},{"text":"Leo symbol","id":"AAT169879"},{"text":"Libra symbol","id":"AAT169881"},{"text":"Pisces symbol","id":"AAT169883"},{"text":"Sagittarius symbol","id":"AAT169885"},{"text":"Scorpio symbol","id":"AAT169887"},{"text":"Taurus symbol","id":"AAT169890"},{"text":"Virgo symbol","id":"AAT169892"},{"text":"Zodiac symbol","id":"AAT9937"},{"text":"evangelists","id":"AAT25762"},{"text":"eagle","id":"x30166"},{"text":"winged ox","id":"x37671"},{"text":"winged lion","id":"x35435"},{"text":"Cherubim","id":"x35266"},{"text":"whale","id":"x35862"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"ALTAR\r\nPolish (Gdansk, Poland); about 1650\r\nAmber and ivory on wood carcase\r\nGiven by Dr W.L. Hildburgh F.S.A.\r\n\r\nAmber was used to adorn precious religious and secular object in Poland, Denmark and Prussia especially during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Often, as here, it was combined with ivory. This imposing altar is one of the most impressive of such works to survive. On the front are scenes from the New Testament, while on the back are Old Testament scenes, and a perpetual calendar.\r\n","date":{"text":"1993 - 2011","earliest":"1993-01-01","latest":"2011-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["A.1-1950"],"accessionNumberNum":"1","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1950,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LU3404"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-30","recordCreationDate":"2004-01-28","availableToBook":false}}